Emirates A350 + A380 business class reviewed, LifeMiles sale at 170% bonus, and why Aeroplan is terrible for Emirates

Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the week. Coffee's ready, and I've got three things for you today:

I’m opening up 3 exclusive call slots tomorrow, November 13th, for anyone curious about joining Dan’s Points Master Program.

This is your chance to ask me anything you want to know:

Available slots tomorrow:

Only 3 spots, so grab one while they’re available. Book a slot here!

If you've ever dreamed of flying Emirates in business class, Dan's newest video is a must-watch. This time, he takes you from Southeast Asia to Europe on two aircraft: Emirates' brand-new A350 and the legendary A380, side by side.

It's one of the world's most famous business class products, not just because of the gold accents and onboard bar, but because Emirates somehow blends fun and luxury in a way few airlines can. In the video, you can take a look at the new A350 cabins, how the seat design feels on longer flights, and whether Emirates' signature service still lives up to the hype.

He also points out some interesting details you won't see in a typical promo reel: the amenity kits are Bvlgari, the entertainment system now has Bluetooth connectivity on the A350, and yes, the famous A380 bar is still alive and well. The food and presentation? Let's just say that part of the review sparked some debate.

I'll admit something funny: I've actually never flown Emirates myself. Kind of shocking, right? For someone who spends most of their time talking about airlines, Emirates remains one of my biggest gaps, but it's firmly on my list. Watching this review only made me want to try it more, especially now that Emirates' A350s are slowly expanding across Europe and Asia.

They even fly to Argentina, but unfortunately, on their older 777s with a 2-3-2 layout in business class, not exactly the setup I'd want for an 18-hour flight plus a 2-hour stop in Rio. So I'm still waiting for the day they send the retrofitted 777 (or even one of their new A350s) down here before I finally book it. And good news has come! Yesterday it was announced that Emirates is considering a nonstop flight between EZE and DXB, which will make the journey much more pleasant without having to stop in Rio. Maybe I get to fly their amazing first class on a 17-hour flight? I certainly hope so!

One thing I loved from Dan's review was the reminder that Emirates business class isn't just about over-the-top luxury, it's about the vibe. The service can vary, the food can be hit or miss, but there's a unique energy on Emirates flights that keeps people coming back. And when you combine that with lie-flat seats, free Wi-Fi for Skywards members, and the A380 bar at 40,000 feet, it's easy to see why.

On paper, booking Emirates with Air Canada Aeroplan has a few perks: no fuel surcharges, the ability to mix partners and add a 5,000-point stopover, and generally decent availability tools. In practice, the points required for Emirates are so high that Aeroplan is usually the worst value for Emirates' premium cabins.

The pricing problem

Aeroplan places Emirates under its "Air Canada & Select Partners" table, which uses special (and often higher) ranges and now incorporates variable pricing. Real-world examples show eye-watering totals for long routes, sometimes well over 200k - 400k+ points one-way in business/first on many dates. One recent spot-check even surfaced USA to DXB in business at ~430,000 Aeroplan points + modest taxes, which is extreme, but it illustrates how bad the value can get.

I think we all reached the same conclusion: Aeroplan charges far more for Emirates first class than alternatives; business can sometimes price better, but not reliably, and the upside is usually erased by these higher bands.

For reference, early published banding for Emirates via Aeroplan showed, for a 5,001–9,000-mile itinerary, business at 80k - 185k and first at 225k - 475k one-way; the longer 9,001–12,000-mile band climbed higher still. Today's "select partners" behavior keeps outcomes firmly on the expensive side.

"But Aeroplan avoids surcharges…"

True, Aeroplan doesn't pass Emirates' hefty carrier fees, which can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars each way if you book via Skywards or some partners. However, the massive extra points Aeroplan asks for typically outweigh the cash you save on surcharges.

When (maybe) Aeroplan could make sense:

What to do instead:

Bottom line: If your goal is Emirates Business or First, Aeroplan almost always costs too many points to justify. Use Aeroplan for what it's great at (Star Alliance; creative routings with stopovers), and book Emirates via Skywards or another partner when you truly want that experience

Avianca LifeMiles is running a fresh buy-miles promo with tiered bonuses up to 170% through Tuesday, November 18, 2025. At the top tier, your effective cost drops to about $12.20 USD per 1,000 miles.

The bonus structure:

Different members can see targeted variations, so always check your own account.

What that price unlocks (and why it's not for everyone)

LifeMiles still has genuine sweet spots on Star Alliance partners without big fuel surcharges, like ANA, SWISS, Lufthansa, United, EVA, TAP, etc. Examples that continue to be strong when you find space:

But keep in mind, because this matters: LifeMiles can be a pain. The site glitches, mixed-cabin pricing can be weird, and some partner space doesn't show online, forcing a phone booking. Customer service is notoriously slow, so you need to be patient when using this loyalty program.

How to use this promo:

Bottom line: At $12.20 per 1,000 miles, this is one of LifeMiles' better headline prices and can deliver big savings on premium cabins, if you've found seats and you're comfortable with LifeMiles' rough edges.

That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Friday.

Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi